‘He accuses me of flirting with my boss’

A Lusaka housewife told a Local Court that her husband is a jealous man who often accuses her of flirting with her boss.

Rachael Mtonga,25, of Matero compound was testifying in a case in which her husband, Gilbert Maliwa, 29, of Garden House sued her for divorce.
The two got married in 2012 and have one child.
Maliwa told Senior Court Magistrate Sarah Nyendwa sitting with Magistrates Ackim Phiri and Daniel Phiri at Kanyama Local Court that problems started after one year into their marriage when Mtonga secured a job at National Housing Authority.
He said Mtonga then started denying him conjugal rights by putting a child in between to avoid any body contacts with him.
He explained that even Mtonga’s mother did respect him because she insulted him at times, adding that when he slapped his wife in September she told him she no longer loved him.
Maliwa further told the court that Mtonga’s boss phoned her at awkward times and that she did not bring her pay home but instead took it to her parents.
Maliwa said his wife always came home at 21.00 hours and that when they differed over the matter she left matrimonial home.
In defence, Mtonga said that just after six months into marriage Maliwa started to complain about the high dowry he was charged and did not give her money for housekeep.
Mtonga said Maliwa did not buy her clothes not even an under wear and refused to be touched because he claimed that she was dirty. He refused to shave her pubic hair.
Mtonga further stated that Maliwa accused her of flirting with her boss and that he went to work in Siavonga without informing her.
Magistrate Nyendwa granted the couple divorce without compensation but Maliwa was tild to be paying child maintenance fee of K250 per month. Property acquired together to be shared equally.